TY - JOUR
T1 - The ‘wild and woolly’ world of exercise referral schemes: contested interpretations of an exercise as medicine programme
AU - Henderson, Hannah
AU - Evans, Adam Brian
AU - Allen-Collinson, Jacquelyn
AU - Siriwardena, Niroshan A
N1 - CURIS 2018 NEXS 195
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Exercise Referral Schemes (ERS) are programmes commonly implemented in the United Kingdom to increase physical activity levels and ‘treat’ ‘sedentary’ individuals and those diagnosed with non-communicable chronic disease. The views and interpretations of stakeholders are currently under-researched, however. This paper addresses sociologically this research lacuna, presenting data from interviews with 17 ERS stakeholders (seven exercise professionals, five health professionals and five strategic managers) in a case study English county. A figurational sociological lens was adopted to provide novel insights into the meanings attached to ERS, and their contestation through service delivery models. Thematic analysis generated salient themes regarding divergent interpretations of ERS goals, and conflict within both service delivery pathways and perceptions of programme impact. Data highlighted conflicting and inconsistent stakeholder accounts within and across groups, suggesting participants attached specific, interdependent and sometimes contradictory meanings to ERS. This created conflict and generated interesting unintended consequences. Perceived divisions between strategic and local levels, and between professional groups emerged strongly. The consequences of such divisions are discussed, together with implications for future analyses of exercise as medicine programmes. Results suggest that an excessive focus upon programme impact and end-user experiences may overlook the influence of stakeholder interpretation on how and why exercise is employed as medicine, by whom, for whom and in which circumstances.
AB - Exercise Referral Schemes (ERS) are programmes commonly implemented in the United Kingdom to increase physical activity levels and ‘treat’ ‘sedentary’ individuals and those diagnosed with non-communicable chronic disease. The views and interpretations of stakeholders are currently under-researched, however. This paper addresses sociologically this research lacuna, presenting data from interviews with 17 ERS stakeholders (seven exercise professionals, five health professionals and five strategic managers) in a case study English county. A figurational sociological lens was adopted to provide novel insights into the meanings attached to ERS, and their contestation through service delivery models. Thematic analysis generated salient themes regarding divergent interpretations of ERS goals, and conflict within both service delivery pathways and perceptions of programme impact. Data highlighted conflicting and inconsistent stakeholder accounts within and across groups, suggesting participants attached specific, interdependent and sometimes contradictory meanings to ERS. This created conflict and generated interesting unintended consequences. Perceived divisions between strategic and local levels, and between professional groups emerged strongly. The consequences of such divisions are discussed, together with implications for future analyses of exercise as medicine programmes. Results suggest that an excessive focus upon programme impact and end-user experiences may overlook the influence of stakeholder interpretation on how and why exercise is employed as medicine, by whom, for whom and in which circumstances.
KW - Faculty of Science
KW - Figurations
KW - Exercise referral schemes
KW - Stakeholder interpretation
KW - Health
KW - Primary care
U2 - 10.1080/2159676X.2017.1352018
DO - 10.1080/2159676X.2017.1352018
M3 - Journal article
SN - 2159-676X
VL - 10
SP - 505
EP - 523
JO - Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health
JF - Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health
IS - 4
ER -